Dr Phillip G and I went to the Watts Bar tailwaters to try for some striper action this morning. We caught a mixed bag of fish. Only 1 turbine running, so that hurt the striper fishing somewhat. I only landed 1 striper that was 34 inches long and weighed just under 15 pounds. The fish was skinny. In April that fish would have weighed well over 20 and possibly even 30 pounds. My first big striper was only 33 inches long, but weighed 33 pounds.
Phillip struck first with a nice bluecat in the 6 pound range. It was the only fish that we didn't take a pic of as it was still dark. Then we each caught a channel cat. I hooked up on a large hard pulling fish that came off after about 30 second fight. It was in the area that the striper was caught. I also hooked up with another fish in that same area and it pulled off after about 5 seconds. I set the hook twice and on the 2nd hookset, the fish came off. emoBang
I caught a TARP drum that was 29.5 inches long. Big old lazy beautiful smallmouth emoBigsmile drum. Phillip in the meanwhile was catching a 17" largemouth bass and just after that hooked a good smallmouth bass that he got to the boat and in sight before it jumped at the boat and threw the jig.
We discussed last night that Phillip ought to bring a tarp to cover his truck with, but he forgot it and paid for it too. When we came back to the ramp, there were a couple of buzzards sitting on top of his truck and eating the rubber off the seals around the door. There were other buzzards sitting on several vehicles up there. Most people have gotten smart and had tarps over their cabs, but one unfortunate fisherman had about 3 or 4 sitting on his unprotected car and they were going to town.
Good short 2.5 hour trip this morning. Bowling day, so we had to quit. emoBigsmile emoGeezer
Phillip struck first with a nice bluecat in the 6 pound range. It was the only fish that we didn't take a pic of as it was still dark. Then we each caught a channel cat. I hooked up on a large hard pulling fish that came off after about 30 second fight. It was in the area that the striper was caught. I also hooked up with another fish in that same area and it pulled off after about 5 seconds. I set the hook twice and on the 2nd hookset, the fish came off. emoBang
I caught a TARP drum that was 29.5 inches long. Big old lazy beautiful smallmouth emoBigsmile drum. Phillip in the meanwhile was catching a 17" largemouth bass and just after that hooked a good smallmouth bass that he got to the boat and in sight before it jumped at the boat and threw the jig.
We discussed last night that Phillip ought to bring a tarp to cover his truck with, but he forgot it and paid for it too. When we came back to the ramp, there were a couple of buzzards sitting on top of his truck and eating the rubber off the seals around the door. There were other buzzards sitting on several vehicles up there. Most people have gotten smart and had tarps over their cabs, but one unfortunate fisherman had about 3 or 4 sitting on his unprotected car and they were going to town.
Good short 2.5 hour trip this morning. Bowling day, so we had to quit. emoBigsmile emoGeezer
Attachments
-
001 Phillip with a channel cat.jpg -
002 DK with another channel cat.jpg -
003 Phillip with 17 inch largemouth bass.jpg -
004 TARP 29.5 inch drum.jpg -
005 Striper fight on.jpg -
006 Hooked deeply.jpg -
007 34 inch striper.jpg -
008 2 inch threadfin on 4 inch sassy shad.jpg -
009 16 inch white bass by Phillip.jpg -
010 Buzzard damage to vehicle.jpg
